Propulsion of ships



(No Model.)

D. S. TROY.

. PROPULSION 0F SHIPS,&c.

No. 317,890. Patented May 12, I885.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED Srarns Parana Oriana DANTEL S. TROY, OE MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

PROPULSION OF sales, as.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 317,890, dated may 12,1885.

Applicalion filed March 5, 1384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL S. TROY, of Montgomery, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Propulsion of Ships and Boats, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide ships or boats of improvedconstruction without requiring the vessels to carry steam-boilers orother power-generating apparatus on board.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement ofparts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the vessel constructed in accordancewith my invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of thevessel drawn to an enlarged scale.

My improvements may be applied to ships and boats of any size or modelto be used for short trips in any service; but the invention may beemployed to special advantage in constructing small or medium-sizedvessels for pleasure-boats or in ferry service, where the power forcompressing the air stored in the vessels hull may always be accessibleat various points along the route.

The drawings show one example of the application of my invention to avessel, A, the hull of which at the sides and bottom B is made hollow toreceive tubes or pipes O, which range fore and aft'and connect with anair reservoir or chamber, D, at the bows, and another air-reservoir, E,at the stern. The airtubes 0 are incased between the inner and outerwalls, F G, of the hull, so that the vessel presents the usualappearance of a metal or wooden boat. The casings F G may he stayed toeach other in any approved way, and are sufficiently heavy to preservethe form into which they are molded, and to support the tubes 0 firmlyagainst ordinary shocks of use.

The vessel A shown may be classed as an ordinary ships launch orpleasure-yacht in dimensions and model; and as a means of propelling thevessel by the compressed airstored in the reservoirs of the hull, thevessel is fitted with a screw-propeller, H, driven by a shaft, I, fromone or more engines, J, which latter, for economy of space and asuitable substantial support, are shown fixed to a chamber, K, whichalso forms an air-reservoir, and from which the compressed air passes tothe valves and cylinders of the engines.

The reservoir K may connect with either end reservoir, D E, or with oneof their connecting-tubes O. I have shown it connected to the sternreservoir E by a pipe, L, which has a valve, Z, which may be opened orclosed to control the air-supply to the engines, as required.

Any suitable pressuregage, M, and safetyvalve, N, may be fitted to theair-reservoir K, as shown, or to any other part of the compressed-airreceivers in the hull.

Side or stern paddle-wheels, or other means of direct propulsion by theair stored in the hull, may be used, instead of the stern propeller Hshown in the drawings.

In the operation of my invention, the airreservoirsin the hull of thevessel are charged with air compressed to any desired degree from anyshore station provided with suitable air-compressing apparatus, thepressure of the air depending on the size of the vessel, the distance tobe run, and the desired rate of speed, and the air is admitted to theengines to apply as expansive power to propel the vessel.

It is evident that the form of the air tubes, chambers, or reservoirs inthe hull, and their location or disposal in the hull, may vary with therequirements of any particular caseas,

for instance, the tubes 0 may have a square or other cross-sectionalform and be disposed athwart ships in the hull instead of fore and aft,as shown.

My improvement will increase the buoyancy of a vessel, and also itscarrying capacity, as the room required for the usual steam-generatorsmay otherwise be utilized, and ,the labor of skilled engineers on thevessel may be dispensed with, and on pleasure-boats the labor of rowingor the objectionable presence of hired oarsmen or sailors may beavoided; and, furthermore, the dangers attending travel by Water maylargely be reduced and the vessels be propelled swiftly at a minimumcost.

I am aware that life-boats and other vessels have been constructed withairtight metal and other chambers and tubes in the sides and bottomsconnected and disconnected, rendering the boat or vessel more buoyantand adding to its safety and strength, and I therefore do not claimLetters Patent for the invention of such air chambers or tubes in thesides or bottom of boats or ships; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,1's

1. The combination, with the hull of a ship or boat, A, of theair-reservoirs 0, arranged between the walls of the sides and bottom,the air-reservoirs D E, arranged at the bow and stern, respectively, andcommunicating with the air-reservoirs O, and means for connecting thesaid air-reservoirs with the propelling mechanism, substantially asherein shown and described.

2. The hull ofa ship or boat provided with the tubular airreservoirs 0,arranged between the walls of the sides and bottom, the bow and sternreservoirs, DE, and the central reservoir, K, connected With the sternreservoir, in combination with the propeller-shaft I and the engines J,connected with the central reservoir, substantially as herein shown 0and described.

DANIEL S. TROY.

WVitnesses:

HENRY G. TOMPKINS, LEsTER 0. SMITH.

